Cebu City, Philippines—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its Task Force Kalasag, successfully conducted a targeted monitoring and enforcement operation across various establishments. This intensified operation resulted in the seizure of 20,815 units of non-compliant steel products and other items, with a total retail value of PHP 1,440,758.50.

TF Kalasag’s operations, which were held on March 3, 6, and 07, saw the confiscations of various items that included substandard lighters, liquefied petroleum gas-related products, electrical lighting and wiring devices, household appliances, construction materials, and automotive-related materials.

These seized products lacked the required Philippine Standard marks, Import Commodity Clearance stickers, and other manufacturer’s information, violating regulations under Republic Act (RA) No. 7394, as amended by RA 10623 (Consumer Act of the Philippines), RA 4109 (Products Standards Law), and Department Administrative Order No. 02:2007 (Defining the Responsibilities and Liabilities of the Manufacturers, Importers, Traders).

“As part of the DTI’s mandate to uphold the highest standard of service nationwide, we are fully dedicated to protecting consumers by ensuring that only certified, quality products reach the market. At the same time, we ensure that our monitoring and enforcement teams have the expertise and knowledge necessary to deliver first-rate service,” emphasized DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque.

In conjunction with the operations, the DTI organized a two-day “Enforcers’ Retooling Session on Technical Regulations on Steel Products.” The first day featured a knowledge-sharing session for enforcers from various DTI offices, with participants attending both physically and virtually. Meanwhile, the second day included a comprehensive plant visit was held on the second day.

Engineers Andrea Mikhaela Lazarte and Matt Morris Veleña from the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) provided updates on the technical regulations for steel products.

Key industry figures, including Mr. Walther Lobitania, Mr. Victor Altavas, and Mr. Jojo Gatola from DN Steel, Mr. Mark De Guzman from GalvaPhil, Inc., Mr. Nelson Gutierrez from the Steel Angles, Shapes, and Sections Manufacturers Association of the Philippines, and Mr. Joel Ronquillo, Vice President for Technical Affairs of the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute, also provided briefings on the Philippine National Standards on steel products.

DTI-Fair Trade Group Supervising Head and Assistant Secretary Atty. Agaton Teodoro Uvero underscored the importance of sharing critical information regarding the steel industry’s technical regulations.

“As primary regulators and stakeholders of the steel sector, the safety of consumers and the integrity of the market depend on our knowledge, skills, and diligence. Thus, our activity today rightly focuses on capacitating enforcers and monitors to effectively carry out their responsibilities,” said ASec. Uvero said.

Moreover, DTI-Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (DTI-FTEB) Director Atty. Regino Mallari Jr. participated in the Retooling Session. “The DTI prioritizes fostering a safer and more reliable environment for both businesses and consumers. I hope that it is never lost on anyone the importance of ensuring that construction and engineering materials are safe and certified,” Director Mallari highlighted.

In April 2024, the DTI-FTEB launched “E-Kalasag” (Expanded/Electronic Kalasag), formerly Task Force Kalasag, to bolster consumer protection and ensure fair trade compliance across digital and physical markets.

In the first two months of 2025, E-Kalasag has registered a compliance rate of 88.34% for the 489 retail firms monitored. This led to the issuance of 57 notices of violation and the seizure of over PHP 8.3 million worth of non-compliant products, totaling 60,020 confiscated units.

Consumers are urged to report complaints or violations related to retailers selling violative products through the DTI Consumer Care Hotline (1-384) or send an email at consumercare@dti.gov.ph or reporttosec@dti.gov.ph. END (Press Release).